A man is in hospital with serious injuries following a collision between a train and a truck carrying dozens of pigs at Dunsandel northeast of Ashburton this morning.
Christchurch police Inspector Stuart Leighton said the collision happened at about 9am in the centre of Dunsandel.
The driver of the stock truck, operated
by Ellesmere Transport, was thrown from the cab and flown by helicopter to Christchurch Hospital.
Pigs were spread across the road following the crash and it was believed only about 15 survived and were rounded up and taken away.
All of the pigs travelling in the first unit behind the truck were killed and were also removed from the scene.
The train took around a kilometre to come to a halt after the impact.
Michael Hands, who saw the crash, said he heard the bells start then heard the train sound its horn and just turned around in time to see the impact.
"I saw the trailer doing a 360 in mid-air and I went to the truck but both doors wouldn't open."
The truck driver had been thrown 20-30m away from the cab, and Mr Hands said there were "dead pigs everywhere", as well as those that survived.
The point of impact on the triple axle truck was believed to be the back wheel on the driver's side.
Mr Leighton said the serious crash unit was at the scene and investigations were continuing into the cause of the crash.
- NZPA
